These are the Virtual Media Center, a browser-based multi-viewer designed for monitoring, of live video signals, and FastReturn, a secure video management platform supporting up to 100 users and five streams.

Both products are based on WebRTC, cloud-based technology enabling the very low round trip latencies required by video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, which both use the protocol. WebRTC was originally proven in high-profile events such as the Fall 2021 editions of the TCS New York City Marathon and Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

“People have been struggling with the latency of live video in remote production workflows,” explained Kurt Heitmann, CEO of CP Communications. “Announcers can’t be way behind the action with play-by-play or analysis. With FastReturn, we use the power of the cloud to deliver streaming return video with ultra-low latency, so you can view your live production from anywhere on any device in real time.”

Users can access FastReturn content via a web browser on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops, as well as through Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire Stick digital media players. The platform can ingest any H.264 baseline profile RTMP stream, supporting HD resolution and 128 Kbps stereo audio at bitrates up to 10 Mbps with less than 400 ms of latency. FastReturn can also invoke edge servers around the world that are geographically closer to the production to provide even lower latency and better reliability.

Virtual Media Center, available as an ad hoc service, is designed specifically for monitoring and not retransmission of live video signals. For use by remote journalists, it has a variety of multi-viewer templates, from simple 2-box and 4-box displays to more extensive layouts based on the number of signals being shared. Through a browser-based interface, media personnel can select specific video feeds to monitor. All templates deliver video feeds with secure, two-step authentication and less than 400 ms of latency.

Beyond event coverage, the Virtual Media Center can also help with multi-camera remote production.